Canberra Yacht Club Sailing News May-Jun 2011 CYC sailors finish on top at NSW Tasar Championships The 34th NSW Tasar State Championships were held at Speers Point Amateur Sailing Club over the Easter weekend for 2011. Rick Longbottom and Kelsey Hanrahan from Canberra were too smart and too quick in the prevailing sick sou easterly conditions of the final two days racing, holding off World Champs Rob and Nic Douglass to take the titles by a point. This is a great result for the Canberra Yacht Club, where Nic Douglass is also a local sailor. Craig McPhee and Gill Berry, early leaders of the regatta, from South Australia rounded out the top three. Day one was sailed in a variable westerly of 2-15 knots, with Nev Wittey and J-C Strong on Stunner taking out heat one, and Rick Longbottom and Kelsey Hanrahan on Navy Sailing taking heat two. The Douglass team of Rob and Nicole were relegated to second place in both races, but managed to lead after the first days racing. Day two belonged to Craig McPhee and Gill Berry sailing Roll Your Own, who sailed exceptionally well to take two heat wins and the regatta lead. Rick Longbottom and Kelsey Hanrahan won the remaining heat of the three races on day two. Going into the final day of racing, Craig McPhee and Gill Berry lead Rob and Nic Douglass by a point, with Rick Longbottom and Kelsey Hanrahan only three points behind. Rick and Kelsey, sailing with correctors to make minimum weight, proved to be too fast and too smart in the shifty southerly, outsailing their competitors to take the regatta win. Rick Longbottom and Kelsey Hanrahan - NSW Tasar State Champions - 34th NSW Tasar Championships - Phil Thompson The top three on scratch at this Championships are an indication the competition that the NSW State Championships attract on a yearly basis. Rick Longbottom is no stranger to the top of the Tasar class, having won a World Championship, multiple Nationals, and his last NSW State Champs in 2002. Rob and Nic Douglass are the current World Champs and five time National champions, and Craig McPhee and Gill Berry have also won a number of National and State Titles. Kelsey Hanrahan, a great skipper in her own right, is a member of the Canberra Yacht Club Youth Racing Squad. All three of these teams have their eye on the World Championship crown, which will be raced for this September in the UK out of Torbay. Megan Darby sailing Pigs Can Fly won the Junior Title, Craig McPhee and Gill Berry took out the Masters title, Nev Wittey and JC Strong won the Grand Masters and Heather MacFarlane sailing SMAC won the Ladies trophy. Balmoral again won the handicap teams trophy, closely followed by Kogarah Bay Sailing Club and Speers Point. For more information on the Tasar, including results for this event, the Worlds or the boat itself go to www.tasar.com.au Contents Commodore s Column 3 CYC Senior Club Awards 4 CYC Junior Club Awards 6 Australian Trailable Yacht & Sportsboat Nationals 8 Vale John Watch 10 ACT Sailing Inc Mariner No. Yarralumla, PO Box 7169 Yarralumla ACT 2600 The Canberra Yacht Club acknowledges the generous assistance of the Canberra Southern Cross Club
Canberra Yacht Club Sailing News Saturday 21 May - Presentation dinner
Commodore s Column Its all too easy for really vital and valuable things, so important to what we do, to blend into our lives, and become taken for granted, for the obvious to become too unnoticed. Despite believing strongly in the importance of acknowledging all the contributions that make our operations work so well, I m as remiss as anyone in sometimes taking things for granted. With so many generous contributors to the CYC, it s a good idea from time to time to make a point of particularly thanking one or two of those who might otherwise seem to be taken for granted. So it is with sponsors like Tradelink. Those of us who expose themselves to the risk of a dip in the Lake will often have cause to be grateful for the presence of the rescue boats, most of all, Tradelink because its such a great platform. Moreover, without it. setting up and clearing away the course would be much harder. Most of all, Tradelink is always there, giving us great service. The boat s not called Tradelink for no reason. Its called Tradelink because of the very generous support provided to the CYC by Tradelink a local business in Mitchell ACT, operated by CYC members. Tradelink doesn t have to support us, and I wonder how often any of us are undertaking the sort of bathroom renovation that Tradelink could support, and give this particular CYC sponsor our first thought. On balance, I reckon Tradelink supports us out of genuine generosity, and I think we can all be very grateful for that. As for all of our sponsors, I hope we ll all keep in mind what this business has to offer us. In the same vein, week on week through the summer and winter series, Don, Leo and Gerard, deliver us great racing. How easy is it to just assume they ll simply keep on keeping on. It s the same with Jenn Nielsen who is there for us for our series races and our regattas and who constantly delivers a totally efficient entries and results system, even when she d rather be at home watching Collingwood with Leigh. Because these marvellous contributors are such an essential and integral part of our racing, its all the more important to remember how much all that they contribute is appreciated. For my part, I don t think I could say thankyou often enough to properly reflect their contribution. So, while, there are many on whose contributions we can reflect with gratitude, we should mark this time of year with special thanks to Tradelink and to Don, Leo, Gerard and to Jenn. The time for our annual general meeting is approaching. It ll be a few weeks later this year, in mid-september which will ensure we re better placed in terms of financial reporting, as well as in laying the foundations for the 2011-12 season. Notices will be going out during August. The AGM is the time for our Committee to give account of its stewardship. This Club belongs to all of us, and its important that the interests of the membership are at the forefront of the Club s and the Committee s priorities, resources and effort. The AGM is also the time for transition, including refreshment of our Committee a chance to inject new energy, new ideas and new leadership into the Club s directions. There are a few of us on the Committee who, for that reason will not be continuing. I m one of those, having made it clear when I took on the role of Commodore that I believe that, for me, two years is long enough to allow some achievement, but not so long that I might think I own the role. That said, we ve been very fortunate with those of my predecessors who ve served so wonderfully for longer than that, and I expect there ll be others after me who ll do so as well to our very great benefit. An important duty of the outgoing Committee is to take whatever action might be needed to ensure that sufficient candidates are identified and encouraged to nominate so that the incoming Committee can be filled. This year s Committee has worked very hard and achieved a great deal and some members will be nominating to continue. We are also fortunate in receiving indications of willingness to join the Committee from some very sound candidates. This does not mean, however, that the Committee election is a closed shop or that people need the Committee s permission or the Commodore s permission to nominate. That right is integral to each and every individual s membership of the CYC. If you feel you have a contribution to make, or that you could help get things done differently, then it is very much open to you to nominate for the CYC Committee and I join with the whole Committee in inviting and welcoming your interest, and in strongly encouraging you to put your name forward. While nobody needs my permission to do that, I m more than happy to talk over any questions Committee candidates might have about roles and expectations. Put your hand up its your Club. I ve previously mentioned that the Canberra Southern Cross Club has opened discussions with us on options for the ground floor of CSCYC Building. We re keen to work very cooperatively with the CSCC to get to better arrangements for both of us. In that regard, we have emphasised to the Southern Cross Club, and they have understood our position, that an appropriate, dedicated CYC member s clubroom facility is essential to us. We are extremely fortunate in the very positive and cooperative relationship we have with the CSCC, underpinned by our recently renewed MOU. I am very optimistic as to the potential opportunities for us in these current discussions. 14-28 July sees Matt Owen & Andrew Reed s Flying Fifteen campaign in the UK. I ve sent them last minute best wishes on behalf of the CYC. Noting that the UK is half a day behind us, and the first race is on Saturday 16 July, I suspect I m only one of the many of us who ll be following Matt and Andrew s progress very closely, via: http://www.hisc. co.uk/ffworlds2011/f15worlds_news.htm In the meantime, Rory continues to keep the home fires burning back here at the CYC, and he s coped with a range of issues, including a major electrical re-wiring of Tradelink, and the vicissitudes of Canberra s winter weather with typical competence and efficiency. I think we ve all also enjoyed his forays into adding more colour to the various emails he sends out to us. While Matt s away, Rear Commodore Finance, Ron Ashpole has stepped into the breech taking on an invaluable role in maintaining our financial and commercial arrangements. He s covering all the necessary bases as well as helping and enabling Rory to get on with his role. The Committee and I are very grateful to Ron. Lastly, it might be absolutely freezing in Canberra just now, but the Winter Series has seen great sailing so far and the 2011-12 season is approaching be ready to enjoy it!! Paddy Hodgman canberrayachtclub.com.au 3
Canberra Yacht Club Sailing News CYC 2010-11 Senior Club Awards Yachtsman of the Year Matt Owen Matt has had a fantastic year with success in almost all regattas he has entered. Matt has been active in many different classes this year which shows his versatility and not a single class sailors. In addition to the great season away at regatta he has won locally this year culminating in another Club Championship. Matt has plased 1st at the following Regattas Hamilton Island Race Week in the IRC Div 3 on a Sydney 36, the ACT Flying Fifteen Titles, the FF15 Eden Regatta, the Australian FF15 Championships, Jervis Bay Challenge 50miler in an Elliott 7,and Australian Elliott 7 Champion (5 times in a row). As well as taken out the CYC Division 1 Champion for 2010/11. Yachtswoman of the Year Nicole Douglass As crew Nicole and her father Rob have won the following regattas. The 2010 Tasar National championship at Airlie Beach, the 2011 Tasar National Championship at Woolahra, the ACT Tasar Dinghy Champion and the Batemans Bay Regatta in the Tasar. They came 2nd at the 2011 NSW Tasar States As skipper Nicole is the current Spiral Ladies National Champ, Spiral NSW Ladies Champ and came 6th overall at the regatta. She has competed in sail Sydney in 470 class as skipper. Sailed on Farr 40 EDRAKE as tactician Currently working up to defending the World Tasar Title in England in September. Crew of the Year Andrew Reed Andrew has had a fantastic year with success in almost all regattas that he has entered. As crew Andrew has been active in many different classes this year which shows his versatility as a crew. In addition to the great season away at regatta they have won locally this year culminating in another Club Championship this season. As crew Andrew has plased 1st at the following Regattas Hamilton Island Race Week in the IRC Div 3 on a Sydney 36, the ACT Flying Fifteen Titles, the FF15 Eden Regatta, the Australian FF15 Championships, Jervis Bay Challenge 50miler in an Elliott 7,and Australian Elliott 7 Champion (5 times in a row). As well as taken out the CYC Division 1 Champion for 2010/11. 4 MAY-JUN 11
Club member of the year Steve Cartwright Steve is our Optimist Green Program coach. He has 10 students whom he is teaching the basics of sailing to. He also regularly sets up the twilight evening sailing including, pumping up marks, fueling up powerboats and setting the course. He is very willing to man a power boat for other CYC events. In his spare time Steve happily jumps into boats to crew or steer for people. Steve is a very valuable member of the CYC and a worthy nomination for Club member of the year. Steve epitomises all that is best about the spirit of the club. He is constantly a smiling, willing and effective contributor with a warm, friendly and helpful word for anyone at any time, and he s a great source of sound advice. His contribution to the Club runs across the activities of the Sailing School, where he does the hard yards with cheerful and successful persistence, support for club activities and participation in racing. His constructive, cheerful presence, his ability and his willingness to help have rightly earned him the respect of a wide cross section of the membership and the respect of all of us. Most Improved Senior Skipper Cam Tannock Cam has steadily improved his performance as a skipper of his own Elliott 7 In Spades during the current season. He has shown a significant improvement over the previous season where he made a transition from crew to skipper in the Elliott 7 class. In the previous three seasons Cam was a regular and reliable crew in Humungus for Angus Reid. In Spades finished a credible 1st. on Point Score and 3rd. in the Club Championship for Division 2. Cam has also contributed to sailing administration at the CYC serving on several protest committees. As part of a recent protest committee that Cam chaired, I was impressed with the knowledge Cam has gained of the racing rules of sailing. He has obviously gained much from the YA accredited training he undertook as an umpire for the Australian Youth Championships and also the 29er Championships. Cam has served as Division 2 Representative for the CYC, and recently become Secretary of the Australian Elliott 7 Class Association. Family of the Year Bassili Family All the Bassili family are involved either in training or competing in the sport at the Canberra Yacht Club. Both parent help in the support of the NS 14 Nationals and have been ardent supporters of their kids away regatta as part of the YRS canberrayachtclub.com.au 5
Canberra Yacht Club Sailing News CYC 2010-11 Youth Club Awards Junior Yachtsman: Chris Phillips This year has seen Chris not only compete around Australia but also overseas. 1st NSW Opti Teams Racing, Northbridge 5th East Coast Optimist Championships, Woolhara 9th Queensland Youth Week, Brisbane 14th Spring Cup Pittwater 5th ACT Optimist Championships, Canberra 15th Sydney Opti Race Series, Pittwater 13th Sail Melbourne,Sandringham 28th Australian Opti Championships, Pittwater, 4th NSW 13th Victorian Opti Championships, Mornington, 2nd NSW 8th NSW Optimist Championships, Woolhara, 4th NSW 21st African Open Championships Kilifi, Kenya, 1st Aussie! 43rd NZ Nth Island Championships, Lake Taupo 4th Aussie JuniorYachtswomen: Cassandra Schlimbach Cass long list of achievements this sailing season includes: 8th Spiral ACT junior & Ladies Champion Spiral Nationals 2 ladies, 3rd Junior NSW States, 2nd Ladies, 3rd Junior CHS laser 4.7 2nd NS14 Nationals 12th as crew NSW NS14 States 15th as crew CYC Spiral Champion 2nd CYC Div 7 Pointscore 1st Been selected to train with the NSW Emerging Talent Squad Laser 4.7 fleet 6 MAY-JUN 11
Junior Crew: Karl Schlimbach This year has seen Karl start crewing with Hugh Gallagher in a 29er. Karl has also gained a position as a member of the NSW Emerging Talent 29er squad and received his YA Instructor certificate. Karl placed 8th at NSW Youth Champs, 9th at Sail Sydney, 10th at the NSW 29er States and he also sailed at the 29er Nationals. He was also a crewed at the Sharpie NSW States. Most Improved Junior: Eliot Bassili Eliot has had massive improvement this season resulting in 2 junior championship crowns. He won the Spiral Junior National Champion and the Spiral NSW Junior Champion. Eliot also competed in the NS14 Nationals as helmsman and the NSW States as crew. At the CHS he came 3rd in general division and was the Spiral class winner. Junior Club Member: Tara Blake Tara is a wonderful junior member of the CYC. She is very skilled and easily shares her sailing knowledge with all students and club members. She is a fantastic role model for other junior members and a great ambassador for the CYC Sailing School and Youth Sailing Team. Junior Instructor: Kelsy Hanrahan Kelsy has developing her instructor skills to a very high level this season by working with all sailing classes that the CYC sailing school offers. She has becoming the Opti assistant coach, an a assistant instructor for school holidays and weekend program. canberrayachtclub.com.au 7
Canberra Yacht Club Sailing News 2011 Australian Trailable Yacht and Sportsboat CBH Nationals Over Easter, the CYC in conjunction with YACT hosted the 2011 Trailable Yacht & Sports Boat CBH Nationals with competitors from NSW, Victoria and the ACT competing for the National Trophy. Racing was conducted under Yachting Australia s new Australian Trailable Yacht and Sportsboat Rule. The ATYSB Rule is a national handicap system for even and fair racing between trailable yachts and sports boats racing in mixed fleets allowing the racing success of each boat to be primarily determined by the skills of the skipper and crew. Boats that are of a one design class and meet their class rules sail under their class allocated Class Based Handicap (CBH) and boats that have been modified away from their class rules, or do not have a recognized class, or are one of a kind are issued with a Modified (MOD) or One of a Kind (OAK) Class Based Handicap (CBH). The ATYSB Rule also requires that if the specifications of a boat or a class have been altered from those upon which its CBH was calculated, it must be re-measured and have a review of its CBH. A good example of a highly modified boat measured and issued with a Modified Class Based Handicap competing in 8 MAY-JUN 11
these Nationals was the Hartley 16 REMIX, sailed by Colin Hinwood from the Big River Sailing Club in northern NSW. REMIX sports a carbon mast, asymmetrical spinnaker and rotating carbon bowsprit making it distinctly different from the original class Hartley 16TS in both looks and performance. Racing on day one was tight and highly competitive with three back to back windward/leeward races sailed in a 12-18kt North Westerly. In races 1 & 2 for division three, it became a David and Goliath competition between the I550 OAK Tonka sailed by Gordon Davidson from the Canberra YC and the Noelex 25 Plane Sailing sailed by Peter Kalin from the Albury Wodonga YC with Plane Sailing taking line honors. National results for 2011 Division 1: Sportsboats Cam Tannock - Elliott 7 In Spades Division 2 Open Sportsboats John Graham - Magic 25 AVATAR Division 3 Trailable Yachts Peter Kalin, Noelex 25 Plane Sailing The organizing committee would also like to thank all the CYC volunteers that contributed their valuable time to make the 2011 TY&SB Nationals such a success. Race Officer - Rory Gleeson, Start boat crew & results Howard Faulks. Start boat crew Sarah Kennedy, Rescue driver & Assist Neil Garvey, Llywellyn O Brian. Sign on Debra & Niki Nowell. BBQ Bar Etc Ian Hawke, Kate Fourneax, Neil Davis, Ian Brokenshire, Terrie Ebrill John Graham For day two conditions were lighter with one passage and one windward/leeward sailed back to back in a shifting North to West 6-10kts ensuring all competitors had to work hard to pick the shifts. Day three, after an early postponement, conditions allowed the race officer to start the fleet. In division one the Sprint 550 Quattro sailed by Chris Bland from Victoria nailed the start, leaving the rest of the fleet in her wake, however when the wind petered out, racing was abandoned, giving the 2011 TY&SB CBH Nationals a five race series. canberrayachtclub.com.au 9
Canberra Yacht Club Sailing News VALE JOHN WATCH By Peter Forster, with help from the family Colonel John Watch EM (Rtd) was one of the earliest members of the CYC, from its formative stages. Over a period of 12 years or so he graduated from digging latrines at Lake George to be driver/mechanic for Crusader, the then start boat, and then to be Commodore for 1972-73. John passed away in Sydney on 30 April 2011 at the age of 94 He had lived in Sydney for a number of years and was often seen leading the ANZAC Day march. A memorial service for John was held at St Johns Church in Reid on 24 May. I was proud to be able to represent the CYC at the memorial service. John was a retired Colonel of 3 RAR Australian Army having seen active service in WW 2 in many theaters or war. During the battle of Benghazi 1941 against Rommel s Africa Corp, John came to notoriety for leading his platoon into action and captured the first German soldiers by Australian forces in WW2. John was Matt Owen s maternal grandfather. In his memoirs on page 126 of From Lake George to Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra s Pioneer Sailors, John writes that In March 1962, a brash young man named Keith Owen, gave our daughter, Pattie, a Gwen 12 as a 17th birthday present. Although I was very interested in every activity of the club I did not want to intrude on their newfound interest, so I remained in the background...and, as a result of helping to haul boats out of the water, John came into contact with 10 MAY-JUN 11 the crew of Crusader and eventually became a crew member. And in 1964, Pattie became the inaugural President of the ACT Fleet of the NSW Gwen 12 Association. In due course, John joined the ranks of the sailors, with his Flying 15, Tiffany, sail no. 1033, which he first raced in season 1969-70. He said that he never really learned to master the Flying 15 so no doubt he was very envious and proud of his grandson s Australian championship last January! Since 1969, when the Flying 15s started racing in earnest in the Winter, they have competed for the John Watch trophy, in the form of a giant pewter pot donated by John. As members will be aware, we now have a fourth generation of the Watch/Owen family sailing at the CYC, with Matt s son, Will, crewing for his Dad. By the time the Club moved to Lake Burley Griffin for season 1964-65, and for the next few years, John was very much the expert on how to keep Crusader, with its difficult engine, functional. In addition to driving Crusader, he became a regular starter (PRO in today s terms) for Club races and was on the Race Committee for the 1965 Canberra Day Regatta, with more than 250 competitors. John was Rear Commodore (in charge of House matters) in 1967-68, Vice Commodore (in charge of sailing matters) in 1969-70, and Commodore in 1972-73. And I have to say in conclusion and on a personal note, that John s death leaves me as the earliest surviving (as distinct from the oldest!) former Commodore of the CYC, from the period 1973-74 to 1975-76 a somewhat daunting label to wear!
Saturday 21 May - Presentation dinner canberrayachtclub.com.au 11
Major Supporter CYC Executive Members Commodore Paddy Hodgman (m) 0401929018 (h) 62853694 Lpmge_h@bigpond.net.au Vice Commodore Stuart Allan (m) 0410582799 (h)62582797 allanone@goldweb.com.au Major Sponsors Rear Commodore Finance Ron Ashpole (m) 0414265190 (h) 62629518 ronashpole@iimetro.com.au Rear Commodore Member Services Ian Hawke (m) 0438318301 (h) 62813181 Ian_hawke@bigpond.com Sponsors Rear Commodore Communications Angela Cumming (m) 0412 11 23 23 (h) 6288 1678 angela.cumming@act.gov.au Onward Landscapes 0417686784 Rear Commodore Sailing Howard Faulks (m) 0438 216 130 howard.faulks@dha.gov.au Rear Commodore Operations Sue Hart (m) 0419 995 724 (h) 6285 2888 sue_hart@iinet.net.au CANBERRA YACHT CLUB BOAT SHOP For all your boat repair bits and pieces, or simply because you can t help yourself, come and check out the new shop. Weekdays: 9.30am 4.30pm Weekends: 9.30am 12.30pm PHONE: 6273 4777 CYC Chief Executive Officer Matthew Owen (w) 6273 4777 matt.owen@ canberrayachtclub.com.au Please forward articles for future newsletters to matt.owen@canberrayachtclub.com.au or angela.cumming@act.gov.au Designed by Angela Cumming For advertising contact: matt.owen@canberrayachtclub.com.au If undeliverable return to Canberra Yacht Club, PO Box 7169, Yarralumla ACT 2600.